DOT, FED HWY ADMN, Office of Acquisition Management, 400 7TH ST, SW, Room 4410, Washington, DC 20590

B -- SHARE THE ROAD" CUSTOMIZED TRACTOR-TRAILER SOL DTFH61-97-R-00036 DUE 040197 POC Lorraine K. Johnson, Contract Specialist, HAM40-E, (202)366-0337. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) is seeking to identify qualified sources capable of providing services in the achievement of an effort entitled, "Share the Road Customized Tractor-Trailer". The objective of this effort is to create a national public outreach demonstration project to accomplish the following purposes: 1) develop a high-tech, customized tractor-trailer (interactive mobile unit) that contains and uses state-of-the-art audio/visual technology equipment to educate the public about highway safety, 2) encourage widespread media coverage for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiatives and accomplishments, and, 3) foster public/private partnerships by encouraging and obtaining commitments from the private sector to share in the financial responsibility of completing this project. The centerpiece of the project is FHWA's "Share the Road" public outreach activity. During the development of the concept of this effort FHWA received indications of interest and probable financial support from the private sector. The traveling exhibit should be conceived to create interest through a dynamic exterior design, unique configurations at actual exhibit sites and exciting programs provided within theater and multimedia areas. The exhibit should be equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual systems in order to facilitate scheduling the agenda, appeal to large audiences, enhance the learning experience and attract media attention. The following is background information. In 1995, there were 41,798 traffic fatalities, of which 4,903 lives were lost in car-truck related crashes. That is 12% of the total number of people killed in traffic crashes. Reducing car-truck related fatal crashes by 10% may save 1,500 lives over the next five years. Working closely with law enforcement agencies and professional associations, as well as other highway safety groups, the Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) has developed a broad-based strategy to gain increased public recognition about Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) limitations in an effort to influence the general motoring public's driving behavior. A new concept was developed that described truck driving limitations in memorable and easy-to-understand language. The term No-Zone was created and has been used to define the "Share the Road" campaign. The No-Zone is a highway safety term used to describe danger areas around trucks where crashes are more likely to occur. Blind spots represent the most common "No-Zones," where passenger vehicles tend to disappear from view of CMV drivers. OMC is responsible for planning and coordinating "No-Zone" related activities with other Federal, State, and local highway safety agencies, highway safety advocacy groups, and the private sector. In 1994, OMC launched a nationwide public outreach campaign specifically designed to reverse the upward trend of car/truck fatalities by modifying driving behavior through public education. A series of TV, radio, and print public service announcements (PSAs) and pertinent sharing-the-road information was developed in coordination with the State of Maryland under a Motor Carrier Safety Assistance (MCSAP) Public Education grant. This "Share the Road" campaign also supports and promotes other organization's public education efforts aimed at diverse target audiences including teenage drivers and senior citizens. Partnerships exist with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), various State and local agencies, private industry, and members of the highway safety community to disseminate these and other traffic safety messages. The following is the research methodology envisioned. Task 1- Inventory, Review and Select What Highway Safety Issues to Promote: 1) conduct meetings with OMC, FHWA, NHTSA, highway safety community, and private sector to evaluate issues, 2) identify and evaluate target audiences, 3) inventory, categorize, rank, select issues, and, 4) identify expected advantages and benefits. Task 2- Obtain Financial Support >From Private Sector: 1) identify private sector organizations willing to participate in the project 2) identify level of commitment by private sector parties, 3) develop criteria for selecting/approving private sector partners, 4) obtain private industry financial support, and, 5) recommend contribution levels, involvement in subject programming acquisition of hardware, etc. Task 3- Inventory, Review and Select Audio-Visual Mediums: 1)establish evaluation criteria/panel, 2) identify alternatives and demonstrate capabilities, and, 3) conduct evaluation and provide recommendations. Task 4- Develop Plan to Construct Customized Tractor-Trailer That Demonstrates Safe Driving Procedures and Educates the Motoring Public: 1) create environment to heighten audience involvement, increase interest, and accelerate learning process in safest, most efficient manner and describe how and who will design, construct, install, maintain, etc., 2) maximize traffic flow, provide optimum exposure, estimate number of people/hour/day, 3) identify various venues for which it would be suited and list, and, 4) facilitate easy set-up, installation, and maintenance. Task 5- Develop Plan to Maintain, Insure, Transport, Schedule Events, Coordinate Media Coverage and Public Relations Support: 1) include resource options for personnel, financial responsibilities and timetable elements and 2) include cross-country, multi-city media/education in scheduling events tour aimed at various target audiences within the motoring public. Task 6- Provide Contingency Plans for Anticipated Operational Emergencies: 1) list component reliability and longevity and 2) provide contingency plans for anticipated operational emergencies that may occur during the exhibit's life cycle. The period of performance is currently estimated at 36 months. This is not a request for formal proposals. Information submitted in response to the RFI is for evaluation purposes only and will not impose any obligation, liability or cost on the part of FHWA. The response shall include a capability statement with anexecutive summary, a general description on how the effort is to be accomplished, and if applicable, references substantiating past performance on similar efforts. The response is not to exceed tweleve pages. Due to the fact that the Office of Acquisition Management is to be temporarily relocated responses may not be hand carried to the above address. Responses must be mailed to the above address and must be postmarked by midnight of April 1, 1997. Respondents may or may not be notified concerning evaluation results of any information submitted. Respondents are responsible for requesting any resulting formal solicitation. (0058)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0023 19970303\B-0008.SOL)